A Novel Antigen Design Strategy to Isolate Single-Domain Antibodies that Target Human Nav1.7 and Reduce Pain in Animal Models.

Genetic studies have identified the voltage-gated sodium channel 1.7 (Na1.7) as pain target.

Brain Delivery of IGF1R5, a Single-Domain Antibody Targeting Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 Receptor.

The ability of drugs and therapeutic antibodies to reach central nervous system (CNS) targets is greatly diminished by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Receptor-mediated transcytosis (RMT), which is responsible for the transport of natural protein ligands across the BBB, was identified as a way to increase drug delivery to the brain. In this study, we characterized IGF1R5, which is a single-domain antibody (sdAb) that binds to insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R) at the BBB, as a ligand that triggers RMT and could deliver cargo molecules that otherwise do not cross the BBB.

Targeting insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R) for brain delivery of biologics.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) prevents the majority of drugs from crossing into the brain and reaching neurons. To overcome this challenge, safe and non-invasive technologies targeting receptor-mediated pathways have been developed. In this study, three single-domain antibodies (sdAbs; IGF1R3, IGF1R4, and IGF1R5) targeting the extracellular domain of the human insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R), generated by llama immunization, showed enhanced transmigration across the rat BBB model (SV-ARBEC) in vitro.

Differentiation of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells into Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells for Tissue Engineering Applications.

Synthetic grafts have been developed for vascular bypass surgery, however, the risks of thrombosis and neointimal hyperplasia still limit their use. Tissue engineering with the use of adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) has shown promise in addressing these limitations. Here we further characterized and optimized the ASC differentiation into smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induced by TGF-β and BMP-4.

Enhanced Delivery of Galanin Conjugates to the Brain through Bioengineering of the Anti-Transferrin Receptor Antibody OX26.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a formidable obstacle for brain delivery of therapeutic antibodies. However, antibodies against the transferrin receptor (TfR), enriched in brain endothelial cells, have been developed as delivery carriers of therapeutic cargoes into the brain via a receptor-mediated transcytosis pathway. In vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that either a low-affinity or monovalent binding of these antibodies to the TfR improves their release on the abluminal side of the BBB and target engagement in brain parenchyma.

c-Src Inhibition Improves Cardiovascular Function but not Remodeling or Fibrosis in Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension.

c-Src plays an important role in angiotensin II (Ang II) signaling. Whether this member of the Src family kinases is involved in the development of Ang II-induced hypertension and associated cardiovascular damage in vivo remains unknown. Here, we studied Ang II-infused (400 ng/kg/min) mice in which c-Src was partially deleted (c-Src) and in wild-type (WT, c-Src) mice treated with a c-Src inhibitor (CGP077675; 25 mg/kg/d).

Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 7 Cation Channel Kinase: New Player in Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension.

Transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) is a bifunctional protein comprising a magnesium (Mg(2+))/cation channel and a kinase domain. We previously demonstrated that vasoactive agents regulate vascular TRPM7. Whether TRPM7 plays a role in the pathophysiology of hypertension and associated cardiovascular dysfunction is unknown.

Brain penetration, target engagement, and disposition of the blood-brain barrier-crossing bispecific antibody antagonist of metabotropic glutamate receptor type 1.

Receptor mediated transcytosis harnessing the cellular uptake and transport of natural ligands across the blood-brain barrier (BBB) has been identified as a means for antibody delivery to the CNS. In this study, we characterized bispecific antibodies in which a BBB-crossing antibody fragment FC5 was used as a BBB carrier. Cargo antibodies were either a high-affinity, selective antibody antagonist of the metabotropic glutamate receptor-1 (BBB-mGluR1), a widely abundant CNS target, or an IgG that does not bind the CNS target (BBB-NiP).

Acute ethanol intake induces mitogen-activated protein kinase activation, platelet-derived growth factor receptor phosphorylation, and oxidative stress in resistance arteries.

In the present study, we investigated the role of angiotensin type I (AT1) receptor in reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) activation induced by acute ethanol intake in resistance arteries. We also evaluated the effect of ethanol on platelet-derived growth factor receptors (PDGF-R) phosphorylation and the role of this receptor on ROS generation by ethanol. Ethanol (1 g/kg; p.

Aldosterone signaling through transient receptor potential melastatin 7 cation channel (TRPM7) and its α-kinase domain.

We demonstrated a role for the Mg(2+) transporter TRPM7, a bifunctional protein with channel and α-kinase domains, in aldosterone signaling. Molecular mechanisms underlying this are elusive. Here we investigated the function of TRPM7 and its α-kinase domain on Mg(2+) and pro-inflammatory signaling by aldosterone.

A non-damaging chemical amination protocol for poly(ethylene terephthalate) - application to the design of functionalized compliant vascular grafts.

Bioengineering approaches have been intensively applied to create small diameter vascular grafts using artificial materials. However, a fully successful, high performing and anti-thrombogenic structure has not been achieved yet. In this study, we present the first step of a process aiming at biofunctionalizing previously designed compliant polyethylene terephthalate (PET) scaffolds (Moreno et al.

Acute ethanol intake induces superoxide anion generation and mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation in rat aorta: a role for angiotensin type 1 receptor.

Ethanol intake is associated with increase in blood pressure, through unknown mechanisms. We hypothesized that acute ethanol intake enhances vascular oxidative stress and induces vascular dysfunction through renin-angiotensin system (RAS) activation. Ethanol (1 g/kg; p.

Adipocytes produce aldosterone through calcineurin-dependent signaling pathways: implications in diabetes mellitus-associated obesity and vascular dysfunction.

We reported aldosterone as a novel adipocyte-derived factor that regulates vascular function. We aimed to investigate molecular mechanisms, signaling pathways, and functional significance of adipocyte-derived aldosterone and to test whether adipocyte-derived aldosterone is increased in diabetes mellitus-associated obesity, which contributes to vascular dysfunction. Studies were performed in the 3T3-L1 adipocyte cell line and mature adipocytes isolated from human and mouse (C57BL/6J) adipose tissue.

Ethanol induces vascular relaxation via redox-sensitive and nitric oxide-dependent pathways.

We investigated the role of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) in ethanol-induced relaxation. Vascular reactivity experiments showed that ethanol (0.03-200 mmol/L) induced relaxation in endothelium-intact and denuded rat aortic rings isolated from male Wistar rats.

Adipocyte-derived factors regulate vascular smooth muscle cells through mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid receptors.

Adipose tissue influences vascular function through adipocyte-derived factors, including components of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Molecular mechanisms underlying these phenomena are elusive. We investigated the role of adipocyte-derived factors on mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), proinflammatory status, apoptosis, and mitogenic signaling in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and questioned whether these effects involve mineralocorticoid receptor (MR), glucocorticoid receptor (GR), and angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT(1)R).

Dysregulation of renal transient receptor potential melastatin 6/7 but not paracellin-1 in aldosterone-induced hypertension and kidney damage in a model of hereditary hypomagnesemia.

Rationale: Hyperaldosteronism, important in hypertension, is associated with electrolyte alterations, including hypomagnesemia, through unknown mechanisms.

Objective: To test whether aldosterone influences renal Mg(2+) transporters, (transient receptor potential melastatin (TRPM) 6, TRPM7, paracellin-1) leading to hypomagnesemia, hypertension and target organ damage and whether in a background of magnesium deficiency, this is exaggerated.

Methods And Results: Aldosterone effects in mice selectively bred for high-normal (MgH) or low (MgL) intracellular Mg(2+) were studied.

Vascular proinflammatory responses by aldosterone are mediated via c-Src trafficking to cholesterol-rich microdomains: role of PDGFR.

Aims: We demonstrated c-Src activation as a novel non-genomic signalling pathway for aldosterone in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Here, we investigated molecular mechanisms and biological responses of this phenomenon, focusing on the role of lipid rafts/caveolae and platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) in c-Src-regulated proinflammatory responses by aldosterone.

Methods And Results: Studies were performed in cultured VSMCs from Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and caveolin-1 knockout (Cav 1(-/-)) and wild-type mice.

Differential regulation of Nox1, Nox2 and Nox4 in vascular smooth muscle cells from WKY and SHR.

The functional significance and regulation of NAD(P)H oxidase (Nox) isoforms by angiotensin II (Ang II) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was studied. Expression of Nox1, Nox2, and Nox4 (gene and protein) and NAD(P)H oxidase activity were increased in SHR. Basal NAD(P)H oxidase activity was blocked by GKT136901 (Nox1/4 inhibitor) and by Nox1 siRNA in WKY cells and by siNOX1 and siNOX2 in SHR.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate-induced inflammation involves receptor tyrosine kinase transactivation in vascular cells: upregulation in hypertension.

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a multifunctional phospholipid, regulates vascular cell function. Whether S1P influences vascular inflammatory responses, particularly in hypertension, is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that S1P is a proinflammatory mediator signaling through receptor tyrosine kinase transactivation and that responses are amplified in vascular smooth muscle cells from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSPs), a model in which we demonstrated Edg1 (S1P1 receptor) to be a candidate gene for salt-sensitive hypertension.

Vascular biology of magnesium and its transporters in hypertension.

Magnesium may influence blood pressure by modulating vascular tone and structure through its effects on myriad biochemical reactions that control vascular contraction/dilation, growth/apoptosis, differentiation and inflammation. Magnesium acts as a calcium channel antagonist, it stimulates production of vasodilator prostacyclins and nitric oxide and it alters vascular responses to vasoconstrictor agents. Mammalian cells regulate Mg2+ concentration through special transport systems that have only recently been characterized.

Transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) cation channels, magnesium and the vascular system in hypertension.

Decreased Mg(2+) concentration has been implicated in altered vascular reactivity, endothelial dysfunction and structural remodeling, processes important in vascular changes and target organ damage associated with hypertension. Unlike our knowledge of other major cations, mechanisms regulating cellular Mg(2+) handling are poorly understood. Until recently little was known about protein transporters controlling transmembrane Mg(2+) influx.

Receptor and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases in vascular biology of hypertension.

Purpose Of Review: Extensive evidence indicates that receptor tyrosine kinases and nonreceptor tyrosine kinases underlie vascular damage in hypertension. However, recent clinical studies using vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor inhibitors (bevacizumab, axitinib) revealed the unexpected finding of increased blood pressure. Whether this is a generalized receptor tyrosine kinase phenomenon or a VEGF receptor-specific effect is unclear.

Ethanol-induced vasoconstriction is mediated via redox-sensitive cyclo-oxygenase-dependent mechanisms.

The present study investigated the role of ROS (reactive oxygen species) and COX (cyclo-oxygenase) in ethanol-induced contraction and elevation of [Ca2+]i (intracellular [Ca2+]). Vascular reactivity experiments, using standard muscle bath procedures, showed that ethanol (1-800 mmol/l) induced contraction in endothelium-intact (EC50: 306+/-34 mmol/l) and endothelium -denuded (EC50: 180+/-40 mmol/l) rat aortic rings. Endothelial removal enhanced ethanol-induced contraction.

Regulation of the novel Mg2+ transporter transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) cation channel by bradykinin in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Background: Transient receptor potential melastatin 7 (TRPM7) channels have been identified in the vasculature. However, their regulation and function remain unclear.

Methods: Here, we tested the hypothesis that bradykinin and its second messenger cAMP upregulate TRPM7, which stimulates activation of annexin-1 (TRPM7 substrate) and increases transmembrane Mg2+ transport and vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) migration.